Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale Of Two Gumis ❯ POW the First meeting ( Chapter 1 )

A Tale of Two Gumi's

Ruroken X Sailor Moon au

By

Miststalker, Shauntell and Solana

 

As their dizziness faded the Sailor Senshi stood looking around in shock. Their transformations were undone and now they had on some very strange clothes that all looked very similar to Rei's temple outfit.

 

“WHA…where are we?!!” Usagi yelled. “Mamo-chan where are we?”

 

Mamoru opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Ami.

 

“I don't know where we are but we have to get back home! I have a test next week!” she exclaimed, causing the whole group to groan.

 

“Ami-chan, you're probably already way ahead of everything on that test. More importantly what'll gramps do at the temple without me? Chad's gone on retreat so gramps is all alone,” Rei grumbled.

 

“There's a road ahead, so I suggest we follow it,” Mamorou interrupted, replying to Usagi's earlier question. “We're bound to run into someone.”

 

Everyone nodded and followed after Mamorou as he walked down the small road. They didn't know to what they traveled, but each of them hoped to run in to someone that could give them some idea of what was happening or where they were exactly. The last thing they remembered was seeing a bright light and then touching down in the middle of a forested path, dressed in traditional kimonos stretching back to the Meiji Era.

 

//At least, that is the style they most closely resemble,// Ami thought to herself as she followed quietly along with the others. //But could such a thing be possible? Pluto is not supposed to use her staff for time travel unless absolutely necessary. But still…//

 

As Ami thought, the others relaxed enough in their strange situation to goof around. But with the territory being so strange to them, Usagi was the first to notice that they had come a long way and turned to stare behind them.

 

“We've gone so far and still haven't seen anyone, I wonder if this road goes nowhere?” she asked aloud, in a slightly whining tone.

 

So concerned was Usagi with finding out where they were, she wasn't paying attention to where she was going. She yelped in surprise as she slammed in to another young woman who cried out in both anger and shock. The other woman was holding a painting, but Usagi and the others didn't notice this as Usagi fell backwards with a startled cry. She would have fallen flat on her back had Mamorou not caught her.

 

At the same time, a slightly feminine, but masculine voice cried in astonishment; “Ororooooo!!!!”

 

The woman rounded angrily on Usagi, the painting fallen unnoticed to the ground, and grabbed her shouting. “Why don't you watch where you're going? You almost knocked me down!”

 

At this the unknown woman starts shaking Usagi.

 

“Go-Gomen nasai!” Usagi cried tearfully. “Please stop shaking me!”

 

“HEY! Busu, stop shaking the poor girl and let's go!” yelled a spiky haired boy.

 

“I think that's enough. She didn't hurt you and she apologized,” Haruka said grabbing the woman's wrists to break her hold on Usagi, only to have the woman lash out with her fist towards Haruka's head.

 

“Hey now that is totally uncalled for!” protested Makoto as she wades in to snatch Usagi away.

 

“Hey! Only I can pick on Busu!” cried the spiky haired boy as he rushed forward. “Get your mitts off her!!”

 

“Maa, Maa!!” said the same youthful voice as a brawl broke out with no one noticing as a gentle faced, red haired, short man hurried towards them with a worried expression on his face, trying to quell the fighting.

 

“Usagi-chan! Stop crying!!” Rei snapped in irritation as she struggled to pull the wailing blonde out of the angry girl's grasp.

 

As the man walks towards the fight, Mamorou moved in to join him. With looks of understanding they turned with resigned sighs to watch the outcome of the brawl.

 

“Think we should step in?” Mamorou asked as Haruka landed a particularly vicious blow to the gut of the woman Usagi had bumped into.

 

Suddenly a voice rang out; “Haruka stop this at ONCE!”

 

Haruka turned from the fight to face her partner Michiru. “Demo, Michiru she started shaking Usagi-chan!” Haruka stated simply, as if that explained everything.

 

“I don't care. You should know better then to start a fight with someone so obviously younger then you,” Michiru said crossly as she approached the group.

 

“Seesha agrees, de gozaru yo,” said the youthful voice, and the Sailor-Gumi turned as one - although Usagi was still held by the dark-haired woman and her hair had now fallen from the small buns on her head - to look at the red haired man as he approached the angry dark-haired woman.

 

“Kaoru-dono, Seesha believes this was just an unfortunate accident,” the red haired man told the young woman sweetly, smiling a sunny smile as he gently, but firmly took her arms from Usagi and lead her away from the group.

 

“Demo!” the newly named woman, Kaoru, cried in protest.

 

“Aa, Kenshin!” growled the spiky-haired boy as he turned towards them, keeping his bokken aimed at Makoto. “These guys nearly knocked her over!”

 

“But this girl of yours started it!” Makoto growled at the boy, not yet paying full attention to the small, but handsome swordsman.

 

“Kaoru-dono . . .” the red-headed swordsman replied exasperatedly as he placed his hands on the young woman's shoulders. “Kaoru-dono has had a bad morning, de gozaru na.”

 

“That's no excuse,” Minako snapped.

 

“She should've been watching where she was going,” Kaoru snapped back, not breaking away from Kenshin's hold, yet keeping her hands fisted in obvious agitation.

 

“Ma ma,” Kenshin sighed, releasing his hold to place his hands on her shoulders. “Did this young girl apologize or not Kaoru-Dono?”

 

“Usagi did apologize, is that not correct Usako?” Mamorou asked as he came to stand beside the bawling, long haired blonde, placing a gentle arm around her shaking shoulders.

 

“H-Hai!!” the blonde sniffed, burrowing her head into his shoulder.

 

“There, you see!” the swordsman said cheerfully as he gave Kaoru's shoulders a squeeze. “There was no need for this, Kaoru-dono. This has been a simple misunderstanding, de gozaru na.”

 

“Mou,” the young woman growled, completely forgetting about the painting as she turned to look at the bawling, blonde. Kenshin had yet to release his hold, and she made no move to break his hold when she looked at the blonde. She began to feel sorry for her angry outburst, but felt irritated at the stupidity of the younger girl as she continued to wail.

 

*Is she a woman or a baby?* Kaoru thought sourly, but sighed none the less.

 

“Gomen nasai,” she muttered shortly, offering her hand, breaking away from Kenshin's hold. “I shouldn't have been so short. It wasn't really your fault. I wasn't really paying attention either. Truce?”

 

Everyone looked at Usagi. The girl sniffled, hesitating for a moment before taking the offered hand at Mamoru's gentle insistence.

 

“Yagata!” the swordsman cried cheerfully as he clapped his hands together. “Problem solved, de gozaru ya!”

 

“Imao, why don't we properly introduce ourselves?” asked the green haired woman Michiru that Kenshin had noted earlier as being the one able to control the one called Haruka.

 

“I agree that would be the most logical decision, at this point in time,” stated the blue haired girl, who had stayed out of the fighting, “I'll go first. I'm Mizuno Ami, pleased to meet you.”

 

“Seesha wa Himura Kenshin. Pleased to meet you,” the red haired man with the cross shaped scar on his cheek said with a respectful bow.

 

“Anou Kenshin, maybe we should take these introductions to the Dojo? It looks like it's going to rain,” Interjected Kaoru.

 

“Hai, Kaoru-dono,” the red-head replied, turning to the Senshi-gumi. “If you have nowhere else to be perhaps you'd like to join us at the Kamiya Kashinn Dojo?”

 

“A dojo?” asked Makoto in interest as she looked at Kaoru. “You mean like bushido arts?”

 

“Iie,” said Kaoru rather proudly as she turned to the Senshi-gumi. “It's a sword-arts dojo, made after the style my father perfected; Kamiya Kashinn Ryu. It's the sword that protects.”

 

“Honto ni?” said Makoto, her interest turning into surprise.

 

“Well, in that case, let's head in the direction of this dojo of yours, eh?” said Mamorou as he put a gentle hand on Usagi's shoulders. “As Himura-san has said, it looks like it might rain. It wouldn't be good to get caught out in the middle of it.”

 

“Sou, de gozaru no,” Kenshin agreed. “Sa. This way, minna.”

 

With that, he turned and headed back in the direction of the dojo, with Kaoru promptly following after him. She stuck close to his side, suddenly self-conscious of her appearance compared to the beauty of these strange visitors. She also watched somewhat enviously at the open affection between the tall dark haired man, and the petite blonde known as Usagi. With a small sigh she faced the path ahead, eyeing Kenshin as he walked beside her.

 

Kenshin was watching the one called Haruka. Her footsteps were precise and controlled, possessed by a grace he was familiar with. She was angry still, and yet the state of her emotions did not affect the grace of her movement.

 

//Hmm,// he thought. //This is very strange. Her movements seem somehow familiar.//

 

At that moment, as if sensing his eyes on her, Haruka looked back at him. Kenshin blinked at her and quickly looked ahead of him. He was bothered by this young woman, and he couldn't say how or why. There was something different about her and his Shishou. But he couldn't let her notice his awareness too much and so, he turned to Kaoru and began talking with her, as well as the other girls, trying to ease their nervousness. But some remained aloof and quiet regardless. Most were in their own thoughts about the strange land they'd landed in.

 

//It has to be, but I just can't think why,// Ami mused to herself as they continue on and buildings began to come into view. //There's no way Setsuna would have brought us here on purpose. Hmm…I wonder, her staff did take the brunt of a pretty hefty blow…Maybe that's why we're here…Maa I wish I could just take out my computer and do a few calculations.//

 

//This is getting very strange…// thought Rei as she looked around at the few trees they passed as they entered the city. //Some of these trees feel familiar, only slightly different…younger maybe. I don't know, but this is starting to feel like the “Twilight Zone”.//

 

When the city finally came into view the sailor-gumi stopped to stare. The Kenshin-gumi stopped in surprise to look back at the group, noticing the combination of shock, fear, and unease written on their faces.

 

“Anou, we really should be going,” Karou persisted, eyeing the dark ominous clouds. When no one moved she looked out to where they looked. “You look as if you've seen a ghost. Haven't you seen Tokyo before?” Kaoru teased them.

 

Before anyone else could answer Mamorou replied. “No, we haven't, this is quite an amazing sight.” Following his lead, the girls all nodded, once again following Kaoru's lead. But the confusion and alarm remained etched on their faces.

 

“It's an overwhelming thing, so large.” Ami said aloud but, thought nervously, her suspicions now confirmed. //This is the past!// she thought starting to panic. //And judging from the style of architecture and the dirt roads, it is the Meiji Era! I remember seeing pictures of that town square there . . . and that stream! Oh, this is awful! Think Ami! What do we need to do?// She looked around. //Well, I suppose that for right now, we have to figure out which year of the Meiji we have come to exactly and how to get home. Demo, if my other assumption is correct and Setsuna's staff is broken . . . . We have a REAL problem!//

 

All thoughts ceased as they entered the gates, and caught their first glimpse at the small yet elegant dojo.

 

“Sugoi! This is beautiful, almost as pretty as your temple, Rei-chan.” Chibiusa breathed. “It's a little run down though.”

 

Before Kaoru could explode at that comment, Kenshin interjected “Well we have been away from home for sometime visiting Kyoto. It's bound to look a little run down.”

 

“What's that hole in the wall from?” Hotaru asked innocently. “It looks as though someone was thrown through it.” She said wandering over to look at the hole in the dojo's wall, which had been carefully draped over with a large piece of fabric to keep out the breeze.

 

“Well that's a little hard to explain…and if we don't get under cover soon we'll get soaked.” Kaoru says a little nervously. She had almost forgotten the hole where Saito Hajime had put Sano-san through. “Come on let's go inside minna.”

 

“Hai” they all agree.

 

“If you like after the rain we could help you with repairs as thanks for letting us stay here,” Michiru offered. “I'm sure you could use the help and for a little while at least we have nothing else to do.”

 

She looked around to see the other's nod their agreement.

 

“Although we may want to have Usagi sit out on that,” teased Chibiusa. “After all she's really clumsy. She just might make the hole bigger.”

 

At this she and Hotaru burst into giggles.

 

“CHIBIUSAAA” Usagi growls as she stalked towards the young girls. “That was very…!”

 

“True,” Rei interrupted. At Usagi's pathetic look Rei sighed and said, “Demo, you have other things you're good at. Repairs and athletics? No. Cleaning . . . well that's something you can do and this place looks like it could use a good scrub.”

 

At this Makoto laughs and gives Usagi a hug, “That's true as long as it's not your room.”

 

That elicits chuckles from the whole sailor-gumi.

 

Kenshin watches this interaction and can barely repress a grin. Their teasing of their friend reminded him strongly of Sano and Yahiko picking on Kaoru.

 

“Matte minna,” Haruka says “remember that time when she was supposed to help me clean after my move? She made a bigger mess of the place than the rooms were in before.”

 

Throwing Usagi a teasing look she puts her arm around Usagi's shoulders.

 

“Mou, that wasn't my fault! Michiru spilled water on the floor and I slipped, that's all it was. Sheesh can't you remember anything right Haruka! After all it was your fault that Michiru spilled that water in the first place,” Usagi grumbled looking sideways at Haruka and sticking out her tongue.

 

Looking back at Kaoru and Kenshin she said. “Demo I really can help clean and the others can help with repairs to say thank you for your kindness.”

 

“Oh…I didn't ask you to stay with us in order to have you help with repairs,” Kaoru protested, “I just…”

 

“No, please we'll feel useless if you don't let us help,” argued the, until now, silent woman with very long green hair. “Demo first I believe we should introduce ourselves.” She smiled kindly, “I'm Meioh Setsuna, nice to meet you.”

 

Then she looked expectantly at the two giggling girls.

 

“I'm Tsukino Usagi, demo you can call me Chibiusa.” The young girl with bright pink hair said giving a small bow. “Nice to meet you.” Then looked over at Setsuna and earns a smiling nod of approval.

 

“I'm Tomoe Hotaru,” the petite dark haired girl said, following Chibiusa's example giving a small bow.

 

At the mention of the name `Tomoe', Kenshin raised an eye brow.

 

“I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.”

 

Much to Kenshin and Kaoru's amusement she also looked to Setsuna for approval. They both hide smiles as the young girls flush under the approving gaze of their obvious mentor.

 

“I'm Kamiya Kaoru; this is Myojin Yahiko, and Himura Kenshin. We're pleased to welcome you to Kamiya Kasshin's Dojo,” said the woman who had shaken Usagi hard enough to make her teeth rattle.

 

“I'm Chiba Mamorou,” said the dark man who hadn't spoken a word the entire journey to the dojo, and pointing to them each he introduces the others, “Tsukino Usagi, Mizuno Ami, Makoto, Hino Rei, Aino Minako, you've met Michiru-san, ette this is Tenoh Haruka.” After pointing to the short haired blond who had fought with Kaoru, he gives Kaoru and Kenshin a small smile, “thank you for having us here.”

 

“Oii, those two have the same name,” Yahiko pointed out in confusion as he gestured to Usagi and Chibiusa. “How come?”

 

Usagi and the other girls looked at each other sheepishly.

 

“Anou, that's a long story,” Setsuna explained somewhat uncomfortably as she put her hands on Chibiusa's shoulders to keep her from speaking. “One that's too long to tell for now.”

 

“Ah, sou ka,” said Kenshin with a smile, but the wheels in his head were turning.

 

Makoto looked around at the group a little more closely than before. And where she had barely glanced at Kenshin before in all of the chaos earlier, she now observed him in full. Her eyes sparkled dreamily at the simple, sweet appearance of his sunny smile, brilliant hair and charming violet eyes.

 

*Wow!* she thought dreamily, feeling her cheeks flush as she watched him look at Kaoru. *He looks just like my old boyfriend! He's just a little shorter.* She became thoughtful. *I need to impress him somehow. Hmm . . . I know!!*

 

“Well, now that that's over,” Makoto says in an authoritative voice, “it's time to eat.”

 

“Demo…we're out of supplies for food,” Kaoru explains in a small voice. “We were gone for a long time so we didn't leave anything here that could perish.”

 

Just then they hear the bright chatter of two voices talking excitedly while a third lower tone answered the occasional question. As the group watched a tall woman with long dark hair is practically dragged into the dojo by two adorable little girls.

 

“Megumi-dono?!” Kenshin asked in surprise.

 

At this the woman looked up sharply as the two little girls let out identical squeals of joy. “Ken-ni-san!” they cried and ran to the red head, who smiles hugely and kneels down for hugs.

 

“Ken-san!” the newcomer flutters, “you're home earlier then we expected. I thought you weren't going to travel for another three days just to be sure you had fully recovered! Otherwise we would have had this place cleaned and stocked…” she trailed off as the older of the two girls asked, “Anou, Ken-ni-san? Who are all these people?”

 

At the words fully recovered Haruka gives Kenshin a sharp look; as though she could see through him to find what had been wrong.

 

The younger girl nodded her head sharply in agreement as she peered cautiously over Kenshin's shoulder.

 

Megumi looks away from Kenshin and for the first time notices that the dojo seems quite crowded with twelve others.

 

//Hmm…there's definitely one man but,// she thought, looking at Haruka. //That one could be either male or female.//

 

Unable to resist teasing Kaoru she asks in high pitched singsong voice, “Ohhh Kaoru you didn't get Kenshin a harem in hopes of winning him did you?”

 

Kenshin's eyes bulged. “Oro!!?”

 

At this, Kaoru flushed and became angry. But before she could say anything, Usagi stepped forward, surprising the Kenshin-gumi, to speak to Megumi, rather annoyed.

 

“I don't know who you are but the idea of us being a harem is absolutely ridiculous!” she exclaimed angrily. “We are friends traveling together and Miss Kaoru was kind enough to open her home to us. I won't have you being mean to her.”

 

Megumi was taken aback by the vehemence in the young woman's voice. “Gomen. I was merely teasing my friend. I didn't mean to insult you and your friends in anyway.” Megumi bows in apology, “I'm Takani Megumi, a friend of Kenshin and Kaoru. Pleased to meet you.”

 

Usagi's mouth opened once or twice in mild annoyance, and then she sighed. She still seemed displeased with Megumi's easy teasing of Kaoru, but her anger was subsiding. “Well, that's fine, but you might want to remember just who it is you're insulting before speaking. I mean, Kaoru is supposed to be your friend, isn't she?”

 

Megumi looked at Usagi funny, but sighed resignedly none the less. “Daijobu, young lady,” she said kindly. “I never over do it on my teasing and Kaoru-san knows that.”

 

Kaoru made a face at her, but then grinned slightly.

 

“Anyway, who may I ask are you girls?” Megumi asked as she looked at them, and then winked at Mamorou. “And you, of course.”

 

Mamorou blushed slightly, nodding his head at her as Kenshin stepped forward to formally perform the introductions.

 

“These young ladies are some new friends of ours, Megumi-dono,” he told her with his usual cheerful tone of voice and gestured first at Usagi. “This is Tsukino Usagi and the young man at her side is Chiba Mamorou.”

 

The young couple bowed graciously at the introduction and Megumi bowed in return as Kenshin continued the introductions. Kenshin stopped on Michiru and Haruka, who was watching him rather closely again. But when the introductions were finished, Megumi was smiling warmly at all the young women and their single male companion.

 

“Well, it's nice to meet you,” Megumi said. “So, what are all of you doing in Tokyo? Or do you live here?”

 

“Um, you know?” offered Makoto shyly as she looked over at Kenshin with a blush. “Why don't we discuss all of that over dinner? I'm a great cook and can whip something up quick as a flash! What do you say?”

 

“Demo,” said Kaoru with a flush as she turned to Makoto. “Our stores are empty, remember? We've been gone for so long . . .”

 

“Daijoubu, Kaoru-san!” said Megumi as Ayame and Suzumi came giggling back towards the group. “While you and Ken-san were gone, Ganzei-sensei and I went to the trouble of restocking your stores. You should have plenty for a good meal tonight.”

 

“Honto-ni!?” Kaoru cried happily, clasping her arms together. “Arigoto, Megumi-san!”

 

“Well, then, shall I go back and start preparing the evening's meal?” asked Kenshin pleasantly as the first clap of thunder roared over head.

 

Makoto immediately stepped in front of him, eyes shinning. “No! Let me! I'm a great cook, honest! And it's the least I can do after you've let us stay!” Her wide brown eyes shone with the first lights of what Kenshin easily recognized as puppy love.

 

“Demo,” Kenshin said in protest, but turned to go inside the dojo as the rain started to fall. Everyone followed him inside all too eagerly.

 

*I need to find a way to tell this young woman that I'm not exactly available, de gozaru. But how can I do that?* Kenshin mused to himself as they all went inside.

 

“No. Really!! Onegai!?” Makoto pleaded as she tugged on Kenshin's sleeve, further irritating Kaoru who easily noticed the dreamy look in Makoto's eyes.

 

She opened her mouth to order her release Kenshin, but was stopped by a pink haired rabbit.

 

“Hai!” chirped Chibiusa eagerly as she and Hotaru happily jumped up and down with Ayame and Suzumi. “She's awesome! I've never eaten such good food before!”

 

“Yeah, it's like restaurant stuff!” added Hotaru as Ayame and Suzumi clapped with glee.

 

“Sou ka,” Kenshin said in interest and looked up at Makoto, apparently heedless of her obvious attraction for him. “Demo, you are the guest. You should relax.”

 

“But I DO my best relaxing as I cook,” Makoto told him. “Onegai! It's my favorite thing to do!” She looks pleadingly in the direction of the others to back her up.

 

“It is true that Makoto is a wonderful cook and she needs to cook in order to calm and relax her mind,” Michiru interjects with a look at Kenshin and Kaoru that spoke volumes. *Please* it said *let her do this so that I may speak to you without her here.*

 

Kenshin looked at Kaoru. “What do you think, Kaoru-dono?” he asked her.

 

Kaoru thought a moment and sighed. “Well, I am a little tired from all that travel,” she said, and then happily turned to Makoto with a smile. “Hai! I'd appreciate the kindness, Makoto-san. Demo, we don't have much.”

 

“Daijoubu,” Makoto chimed as she winked at Kenshin. “I can whip up anything with next to nothing! You just watch!” She looked around. “Now, where's the kitchen?”

 

“This way,” Kaoru said and walked off to show her the way. Four of the older follow including the little girls, Hotaru, Chibiusa, Ayame and Suzumi. As they leave in a bundle of excited chatter it's obvious to Kenshin that those who remained are hiding smiles.

 

*Imao* he returns his attention to Haruka *I really must discover why she's so different from all the others and yet similar to Shishou.*

 

His musings are interrupted by Kaoru's return.

 

“Now that the noisy ones have left us,” said Michiru as she stepped forward and looked expectantly at Kenshin.

 

“Don't forget slightly nosy,” offered Setsuna with a small smile.

 

Michiru grinned slightly and Haruka chuckled as Michiru glanced at her comrade, then turned to Kenshin again as Kaoru came to stand beside him. “Perhaps,” she said. “Still, I feel we must apologize for Makoto-chan's behavior. She is a very kind hearted girl, but can be a bit pushy and is prone to falling in love with every male who is kind to her.”

 

“Nanni!?” Kaoru cried, flabbergasted and immediately annoyed that some strange girl had dared to try and flirt with *her* Kenshin.

 

Haruka rolled her eyes at Kaoru as Kenshin grinned sweetly, calmly listening to what he and Kaoru were being told.

 

“So what? Would that mean that if Yahiko was nice to her she'd fall in love with him too?” Kaoru asked with further irritation as she unconsciously took Kenshin's arm and held onto it possessively. “Mou!! I have a bad enough time with Megumi-san!”

 

Kenshin sweat-dropped as he looked at her. “Kaoru-dono?” he said in a small voice.

 

“Iie, they have to be older then she is,” Haruka added matter-of-factly with a slight smile at Kenshin's plight. “Some time ago, Makoto-chan had been in love with a young man. She had expected to be with him for all time, as it were, demo he left her saying she was `not womanly enough'.”

 

Kenshin frowned at that while Kaoru blinked in surprise.

 

“That's so cruel!” Kaoru growled. “Why would he say such a hideous thing like that to her!?”

 

“It was because she practiced Kendo and Bushido,” Haruka explained with a grimace.

 

“Nanni!?” Kaoru cried. “But I practice Kendo! In fact, I teach it! Demo, Kenshin helped me protect my school! And he's stayed by my side and helped me make new friends since I met him! He believes in people and knows they can do anything they set their mind too! Differences in gender mean nothing to him when it comes to doing what you dream!”

 

Kenshin looked at Kaoru with a warm, appreciative smile. “Kaoru-dono . . .” he said softly and suddenly gave her hand a tender squeeze, but his cheeks had gone a little pink.

 

“Demo, it is true, Kenshin!” Kaoru told him somewhat defensively as she turned to him. “Without you . . . I'd still be alone.”

 

Kaoru went quiet, but the fear of being alone again hung in her voice and sparkled in her eyes. At this, Kenshin's smile broadened and his hold on her hand tightened slightly.

 

“Daijoubu, Kaoru-dono,” he told her softly.

 

Haruka quirked a small grin as she watched them, seeing more to this than perhaps the two of them did. “Well, obviously, Himura-san is no ordinary man, is he?” she stated, and Kenshin and Kaoru looked at her. And for an instant, another measuring stare passed between Kenshin and Haruka before Haruka shrugged it off and continued with her earlier explanation. “Anyway, since then Makoto has thrown herself into learning and mastering the more `womanly' arts, such as cooking. Demo, she's developed a rather bad habit of falling into a `crush' with every man she sees. This is particularly bad when the man in question is unusually kind and handsome.”

 

She threw Kenshin a pointed glare and Kenshin sighed heavily. “This one thought as much,” he said. “Demo, that is a very unfortunate story. This one . . . This one can understand somewhat where she is coming from. Demo, this race to find a replacement will lead only to further heart-ache. She needs to slow down and find herself first. Demo, how to explain this need to her without hurting her?”

 

“Believe it or not, she learns to slow down a little day by day,” Haruka noted with her own exasperated sigh as she folded her arms. “And, we have tried talking to her and explaining things to her, demo she doesn't always listen. At this point, for her to grow up would take a miracle.”

 

Kaoru scowled. “Well, she's not getting near Kenshin, that's for sure!” she growled. “I just managed to get him back to Tokyo in one piece! He's not leaving here again unless I go with him!”

 

Realizing what she'd said and how much she'd revealed about her feelings, Kaoru blushed looking away from Kenshin.

 

Kenshin blushed as he looked at her, SD-faced and sweat-dropped as he tried to think of something to say in reply. But nothing came to mind, so he just chuckled in exasperation and scratched the back of his head the way he always did when he was embarrassed.

 

“How sad,” said Megumi suddenly from behind them as she looked towards the kitchen, and everyone turned to her in surprise. Kaoru practically jumped out of her skin and went beet red as she glared at the `vixen' doctor and briefly wondered just where she had come from and for how long she had been standing there.

 

“That poor girl,” Megumi muttered with a shake of her head. “To be left behind just because she loved martial arts. Demo, I know a young woman who is slightly better off, ne Kaoru-san?” Megumi turned to Kaoru and Kenshin and slyly winked at the furiously blushing pair. “After all, the man in your life does everything, ne?”

 

Kaoru stared malevolently at Megumi. “Watch it, Vixen!” she snarled.

 

“Hohohoho!!” laughed Megumi as she put a hand over her mouth as the fox-ears sprouted on top of her head.

 

Kenshin just sighed resignedly and turned back to the others with Kaoru.

 

“Anyway,” said Kaoru as she cleared her throat. “Does this sort of thing happen all the time?” She looked pointedly at Mamorou who was studying the hole in the dojo wall as Usagi chattered at him.

 

“I mean,” Kaoru muttered. “Wouldn't it present a problem with the rest of her friends?”

 

At that, excited chatter rang out to them from the kitchen. The delicious smells of cooking food accompanied the voices, telling those outside that dinner was most assuredly almost ready.

 

“OH! No she only falls for guys she perceives as being available,” Michiru explained, and then began to answer the unasked questions that were in both Kenshin and Kaoru's eyes. “In other words, this young man wouldn't be in love with anyone else.”

 

At that, Kenshin flinched. He was starting to fall in love with Kaoru, and yet he was afraid to pursue anything. Still, in this he understood that Makoto had seriously misjudged his situation.

 

“What about those two?” Megumi asked curiously as she pointed at Mamorou and Usagi.

 

“Oh, Mamorou and Usagi have been together forever,” Michiru replied with a warm smile. “They are true soul-mates, even if there are times it does not seem that way.”

 

“And, Makoto did immediately back off when she realized Mamorou was taken,” Haruka added.

 

Megumi sniggered. “True soul-mates, eh?” she sighed. “It looks to me like he needs a more mature young woman as his companion. After all, she acts more like a child than Kaoru-san!”

 

“It's pointless to even go there,” Haruka told Megumi with a glare. “Many have already tried and all have failed in their attempts to separate them. `He needs someone more mature,' the women say. Or, she needs `someone who is kinder to her.' Say the males who go after her.” She snorted. “Haven't you realized that many of those around us who have darker sides, thoughts and feelings need a joyous soul to balance them? And then at the same time, a soul who is ebullient and bubbly needs a calmer, more centered soul to ground them.”

 

At this, Kenshin felt his heart stop. It sounded so much like him and Kaoru for some reason. Yet, he was not nearly as stand-offish as Mamorou. She was not as bubbly as Kaoru, and let's face it, Kaoru was much more mature than the young girl, Usagi. And yet, he was seeing much more clearly now. Somehow, he, Kaoru and Mamorou and Usagi were alike.

 

“Humph!” Haruka snorted as she turned away from Megumi. “Your types are all alike. You're so pushy that you don't truly see what's in front of your eyes.” She glanced at Megumi with a measuring stare. “Or, maybe you're too scared or stubborn to see? To selfish perhaps?”

 

Megumi stared at her for a moment in shock and a little pain that stemmed from her own past experiences starting to burn in her eyes, as did fierce anger. But before she, or Haruka, could say more, Setsuna stepped forward and placed a calming hand on Haruka's shoulder.

 

“I'm sure that Megumi-san was merely joking Haruka,” she said calmly. “You saw how she was with Kaoru.” Setsuna looks at Megumi expectantly.

 

Haruka turns a steely glare on Setsuna who merely raises an eyebrow and nods towards Megumi who looked as though she had been slapped and knew she deserved it.

 

“Iie, that's alright I should not have taken the liberties that I did when referring to your friends, Haruka-san. I am very, very sorry,” Megumi bowed towards Haruka, abject apology in every line of her body. “I was unaware of their relationship's dynamics, and made assumptions based on the mere outward appearance of the two of them alone.”

 

Haruka considered a moment and then sighed resignedly; catching the fierce glare that Kenshin had suddenly given her. He would never be so forward or hurtful to someone and had become silently defensive in Megumi's favor. His body language was stiff and rigid and he had subconsciously slipped into a stance that Haruka was REALLY starting to recognize.

 

//But it can't be possible!// Haruka thought with some unease. //Can it?//

 

“Daijobu Megumi-san,” she said in a softer tone, now regretting her harsh words and suddenly feeling uneasy under Kenshin's violet, blazing stare. “I regret my harsh words. Truly. I'm just very protective of them both.” Closing her eyes as she realized that further explanation was called for, “I have seen too much strain on them and their relationship. I spoke without thought and an understanding of their past that you do not possess.”

 

She turned and bowed to both Megumi and, surprisingly, Kenshin. “Gomen-nasai,” she said. “I realize now you meant no offense.”

 

Kenshin removed his hand from sakobato. He had known he wouldn't need his blade in this situation, but it was just an old, bad habit. His sword was a way to protect those he loved. It was a safe guard. And it also served as a warning to someone else to watch it. He was only slightly satisfied when Haruka noticed this and held her gaze for a very long moment . . . until a blonde head suddenly bounced over to their little group and pushed big blue eyes right in his face.

 

“Were you guys talking about us?” asked Usagi happily as she started at Kenshin.

 

“Oro?” he gasped, stepping back in shock at her boundless speed and energy. *she is most certainly NOT like Kaoru-dono!* he thought bemusedly.

 

Usagi turned to Haruka, that same silly grin on her face. But somehow, it charmed them. Especially, when Mamorou came over and placed a hand on her shoulder.

 

“Usako, don't get so close,” he teased her lightly with a small smile, and glanced at Kenshin, although he knew deep down that Kenshin was no threat.

 

Kenshin shrank back non-offensively. “Maa, Maa,” he said, waving his arms.

 

Mamorou nodded.

 

“Ano, Haruka?” said Usagi curiously. “Daijobu?”

 

“Aa,” Haruka said with a grin. “It's nothing to worry about, Usagi-chan. Just a - ah, compliment to you and Mamorou.”

 

“Honto ni!?” Usagi beamed with a blush and a giggle. “Yatta!!”

 

Only slightly embarrassed about her outburst, Mamorou gave them all a slight smile. “I think Mako-chan is about done with dinner, why don't you go check Usako?”

 

“Hai! I'll be right back” Usagi calls as she runs off to the kitchen (nearly falling twice.) “Mako-chan! Is the food ready yet?!! We're hungry!”